Peter Murphy (musician)

Peter Murphy
Murphy performing in April 2011
Murphy performing in April 2011
Background information
Birth namePeter John Joseph Murphy
Also known asGodfather of Goth
Born (1957-07-11) 11 July 1957 (age 67)
Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
OriginWellingborough, Northamptonshire, England
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • melodica
  • conga
Years active1978–present
Labels
Formerly of
Websitepetermurphy.info

Peter John Joseph Murphy (born 11 July 1957) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician.[3] He is the vocalist for the post-punk/goth rock band Bauhaus. After Bauhaus disbanded, Murphy formed Dalis Car with Japan's bassist Mick Karn and released one album, The Waking Hour (1984). He went on to release a number of solo albums, including Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (1986) and Love Hysteria (1988). In 1990, he achieved commercial success with his single "Cuts You Up", which reached the top 60 of the US Billboard Hot 100 which is for singles sales. His album Deep also reached No. 44 on the Billboard 200. In 1992, Murphy released Holy Smoke, which reached No. 108 on the Billboard 200 chart, featuring lead single "The Sweetest Drop". After the release of Holy Smoke, Peter moved from London to Turkey with his family and from there he released Cascade in 1995. Bauhaus then reunited briefly for the well-received Gotham tour in 1998. In 2002, Murphy released Dust with Turkish-Canadian composer and producer Mercan Dede, which utilizes traditional Turkish instrumentation and songwriting, abandoning Murphy's previous pop and rock incarnations, and juxtaposing elements from progressive rock, trance, classical music, and Middle Eastern music, coupled with Dede's trademark atmospheric electronics. He followed this up two years later with Unshattered (2004). The next ten years would see another reunion of Bauhaus in from 2005-2008, culminating in the release of their fifth and final album Go Away White in 2008. Peter then returned to his solo efforts, releasing Ninth in 2011. In 2014, he released Lion, produced by Killing Joke's Youth, which reached No. 173 on the Billboard 200.

Thin with prominent cheekbones, a baritone voice, and a penchant for gloomy poetics, he is often called the "Godfather of Goth".[4][5]

  1. ^ Goodman, Wİlliam (27 August 2009). "Watch: NIN Joined by Bauhaus' Peter Murphy!". Spin. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b Shirley, Ian (25 December 1995). Dark Entries: Bauhaus and Beyond. SAF. ISBN 9780946719136.
  3. ^ Gourlay, Dom (25 September 2011). "DiS meets Peter Murphy". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Having emerged from the tail end of punk rock's ethers in 1978 as lead vocalist with iconic four-piece Bauhaus, Peter Murphy has forged a reputation as one of the most unique, and challenging songwriters of his and every subsequent generation since.
  4. ^ Gill, Andy (16 August 2002). "Album: Peter Murphy". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
  5. ^ Theiner, Manny (19 June 2008). "Music Preview: Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy tours with solo retrospective". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing Co. Retrieved 7 November 2008.